HOW TO COOK YOUR CHRISTMAS TURKEY

How to cook and carve your turkey

Show off your Christmas bird at its best with our easy-to-follow guide to cooking and carving a turkey.

• Remove your turkey from the fridge 1 hour before cooking.
• Always preheat your oven – we recommend preheating to around 180°C/160°C fan/gas mark 4.
• Remove the wishbone with a sharp knife – this makes removing the breast meat much easier when it comes to carving.
• Coat the bird in lots of olive oil, salt and pepper and cook it upside down – this ensures the breast meat stays juicy and tender.
• Cover with foil and roast according to size, turning for the last 30 minutes to crisp up the skin.

Expert tip: after cooking, cover your turkey with foil and let it rest for at least 20-30 minutes. This will help enhance the flavour of this delicate meat.

More Christmas inspiration

Shredded turkey ragu with fresh tagliatelle

Hearty and nourishing, this Italian-inspired pasta dish will warm your cockles – just the ticket in that lazy week between Christmas and the new year, and a clever way to use up leftover turkey

Serves 4-6

400g M&S soffritto mix
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 sprigs rosemary, finely chopped
2 tbsp M&S smoked tomato paste
250ml red wine
1 tin (400g) chopped tomatoes
½ tsp cinnamon (optional)
1 bay leaf (optional)
350ml chicken stock
400-500g leftover cooked turkey thigh meat, roughly shredded
400g fresh tagliatelle
50g parmesan, grated

1. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Add the soffritto mix, garlic and rosemary with a pinch of salt and pepper and sweat for 10 minutes, until soft.
2. Add the smoked tomato paste, stir and cook for 30 seconds. Add the red wine and simmer until reduced in volume by half. Add the chopped tomatoes, cinnamon, bay leaf (if using) and stock. Bring to a boil, then stir in the turkey.
3. Reduce the heat, cover loosely and simmer for about 1 hour, until you have a thick, rich sauce.
4. With 5 minutes to go, cook the pasta according to the packet instructions, then toss into the cooked ragu to coat. Serve topped with grated parmesan.

Watch Chris make the recipe

Sticky shredded turkey bao buns

These sticky, spicy bao buns are a great way to totally transform the flavour of your turkey. Tuck in with the family while you watch a festive film

Serves 4

6 spring onions, finely sliced
½ cucumber, sliced into thin strips
1 red chilli, finely sliced
Small bunch coriander, finely chopped
1 lime
1 tbsp sesame oil
500g leftover cooked turkey, shredded
1 tbsp five spice
5 tbsp hoisin sauce
12 M&S mini bao buns 

1. Add the spring onions, cucumber and chilli to a bowl with a squeeze of lime and a drizzle of sesame oil and toss together. Set aside to marinate.
2. Heat 1 tbsp vegetable or sunflower oil in a large non-stick frying pan over a high heat. Stir-fry the turkey for a few minutes until it’s beginning to crisp.
3. Add the five spice and a splash of water to loosen. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes, until piping hot.
4. Stir in the hoisin sauce and heat through for another 2 minutes.
5. Heat the buns according to the packet instructions. Spoon the sticky turkey into the buns and top with the crunchy onion, cucumber and chilli mix and the coriander.

Watch Chris make the recipe

Christmas pizza

For a fun family dinner between Christmas and the new year, try transforming your leftover turkey into an amazing homemade pizza. To make it, simply spread some of our special pizza sauce over one of our ready-made pizza bases (you can find them both in store). Then top with shredded turkey and crumbled leftover stuffing, mozzarella and a few spoonfuls of our caramelised onion chutney.

Fry a few fresh sage leaves in a little olive oil until they sizzle, then scatter over the pizza. Bake according to the packet instructions, then let everyone dig in.

More Christmas ideas